Summer Sizzle

 

Potted petals, leaves dry and brittle,

line up patiently for their daily drizzle.

 

A sprinkle of H₂O and plenty of TLC,

they are spared a sunburnt tragedy.

  

 A war of hide and seek 

with the fiery foe in the sky,

they dodge its burning bullets,

  blocked by marble allies.

 

Even those, who worship

the rays of its force,

 

 do not brave the watery oasis,

but choose, to change course.

 Only the fierce and the flying 

dare to socialize, 

taking a dip and a dive

before jetting back to their hives,

 now refuelled,

 and on the runway, 

ready for takeoff.

Thanks for visiting

and have a fun weekend!

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Post #150: Pondering the Path

A charming house, near the main church of St. Nicholas.

As early as third grade, I can recall sitting in the

school library, dreaming about little white houses

with blue shutters and lots and lots of flowers.

Mountain range views from my terrace

Up to that point, I had visited Greece only once, but
had no recollection of it, (aside from a few snapshots), 

St. Nicholas Church, our village's main church

since I was only six months old at my baptism, 
which took place on the island of Tinos.
 

On the path towards the village, one encounters St. George's Church.

  

 Perhaps, the fact that I was born in Canada,
 but christened here, was a sign that, one day,
 Greece would become my second home.

What I see, while waiting for the bus.

As an expat, I am constantly comparing my adopted
 country to my country of birth. For example, wouldn't
 you agree that designated bus stops are pretty darn 
delightful, here in the Cretan countryside, where the only
  line ups are those of fruit bearing trees, and vines?

Aegean blue covers an old, metal door, accented by rosemary green.

Don't get me wrong: as far as social and economic

infrastructure goes, for me, there's no place like Canada!

Containers filled with frilly flowers soften the surface of roughly laid cement.

But, my heart melts every time I step outside my door,

to explore the microcosm of a village that is my home,

in a country that is collapsing from economic woes,
which, once upon a time, seemed only to soar.

Thanks for visiting and
have a wonderful week!

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The Art of Home-Making Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Sunday Showcase

Fraternal Florals

They're here...
And they're absolutely adorable!

 

They arrived a little after 7 am, yesterday 

morning, after a long and difficult labour.

Mother and babies are all doing fine,

getting plenty of rest and nourishment.

 

Born not too far apart, (in flower time),

 from their slightly older siblings, they are not identical;

their leaves and and blooms are different in shape,

 

but the same brilliant colourS run through their veins!

Visiting hours are from 9am to 9pm, when 

the Purslane are wide awake, and playful.

But what's this?

It seems the stork has left 

yet another basket on my balcony

of a pretty and precious Portulaca family!

Thanks for visiting 

and have a happy weekend!

 
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The Beachy Rosemary Mystery

Yesterday, we made our way

 to the cove of Paleokastro, (Old Castle), 

for our first salty swim of the season.

Sailboats, floating on a splashy

 surface of sparkling waves,

glided past cliffy coastlines, signed by

stiff, sunburnt branches,

and rough and rocky shores, where aromatic rosemary

 seasoned the breeze with savoury/sweet bouquets.

The Venetian Fortress of Paleokastro of Malevizio, 1573

 I wonder, could this fragrant herb have been

 planted by palace proprietors, or the castle's cooks,

 

  who braved the descent down to the pebbly beach

   to snip the leaves for rich ragouts and scented brews?

One thing's for sure: 

the corns and calluses

 of the castle's culinary crew 

must have been
 pampered and pumiced

 with a weekly, pedicure!

Thanks for visiting 

and have a wonderful week!

 Joining: 
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My Shabby Chic Chair Affair

Our deck chairs, after too much sun, rain, wind, and wear.

I am not your typical shabby chic kinda chick,

 

although I do appreciate a little scruffiness

Newly sanded, awaiting the next step.

here and there, in a finely 
chiseled table or a charming chair.

Primed and prepped.

When pressed, I will admit

 to an affinity for the distressed.

 

  But, I bet that even die-hard fans of this deco
trend would probably agree that this patina is

way too weathered - even for their time-worn tastes!

 Don't let the floral frou frou fool you -

'Next!' Chairs cue up for a shabby to chic technique.

it was definitely time for a tune-up!

Freshly painted in a soft sheen of aquamarine,

their cool, blue hue, was the 
direct result of a colour crush

 on this good looking gate. Remember those words
of devotion I uttered when I first gazed upon it?

''...Quiet and unassuming, (it) spoke to me

in whispery tones, just loud enough to become 

a lovely inspiration for a future patio project, 

(to be posted soon), in my own garden.''

I kept my promise.

And that calls for a toast:

'To the shabby and the worn:
do not fret - for, you too,
 one day shall be reborn!'

Thanks for visiting
and happy weekend!

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